CLEAN Congress Act

Bill Number

H.R. 157

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-02-10T19:41:39Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act" (or "CLEAN Congress Act") aims to enhance transparency and accountability in Congress by limiting bills to single subjects and ensuring that federal laws apply equally to members of Congress and their staff, without special exemptions. This is intended to prevent corruption and unrelated provisions from being bundled into legislation.

Key Provisions

• Single-Subject Requirement (Section 2): Any bill, order, resolution, or vote sent by Congress to the President under Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution must cover only one subject. The title must clearly and descriptively state that subject.
• Effective Date: This rule applies starting with the 119th Congress (the current one) and all future Congresses.
• Equal Application of Laws (Section 3): Federal laws cannot include exceptions that exempt members of Congress (Senators, Representatives, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners) or their office employees. However, this does not affect rules allowing them to perform official lawmaking duties, such as accessing the U.S. Capitol or related facilities.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a federal "single-subject rule" for legislation, which is not currently required under U.S. federal law (though some states have similar rules to prevent "logrolling," where unrelated issues are combined to gain support).
• Eliminates any existing legal exemptions or carve-outs in federal statutes that treat members of Congress or their staff differently from the general public, promoting uniform enforcement.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies and Congress: Could slow down the legislative process by requiring more focused bills, potentially increasing the number of separate votes and reducing the ability to pass complex omnibus bills. Congressional staff may face stricter compliance in drafting laws.
• On Citizens: Enhances public trust by making laws more transparent and ensuring elected officials are subject to the same rules (e.g., no special treatment under regulations like insider trading laws or ethics rules), potentially leading to greater accountability.
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic congressional procedures.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Members of Congress and Staff: Directly impacted by the loss of exemptions and the need to adhere to single-subject rules, which could alter how they draft and pass legislation.
• Citizens and Taxpayers: Benefit from increased transparency and equal application of laws, potentially reducing perceived corruption.
• The President and Executive Branch: Receives bills under the new constraints, which might result in clearer, more targeted legislation for approval or veto.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal/Constitutional: Ties directly to Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution (the Presentment Clause), which governs how bills reach the President. Could invite court challenges on whether Congress can self-impose such procedural limits without amending the Constitution, potentially raising separation of powers issues.
• Political: Promotes anti-corruption reforms by curbing practices like attaching unrelated riders to bills, which might appeal to voters seeking bipartisan accountability but could face resistance from lawmakers who rely on bundling for efficiency or deal-making. If enacted, it may encourage more modular legislation, influencing future policy debates.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (3 pages)